Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered question first ministerially corrected answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1717469

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	France and Spain: Visas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made recent representations to his (a) French and (b) Spanish counterpart on long-stay visas for UK citizens who need to spend more than 90 days within a given 180-day period in those countries.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	25858
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals. British citizens can travel visa-free and stay for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period, in accordance with the Schengen Borders Code. This is the standard length of stay that the EU offers to third countries. Whilst the Government would welcome any changes to visa systems which would benefit UK nationals, this is a matter for national governments and parliaments. The Government continues to engage regularly with the European Commission and EU Member States on a range of mobility issues.</p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 16/05/2024 14:16:22 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1716007

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether additional funding is available to local authorities to provide services to assist people with Universal Credit claims where those services are not available through Citizens Advice.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	24946
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2024 answer text <p>Help to Claim (HtC) was developed and delivered from 2019, and continues to be delivered by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland independently across England, Scotland, and Wales. A further £38m investment is planned for HtC for two years from April 2024.</p><p> </p><p>HtC provides tailored practical support to anyone who needs it and it enables individuals requiring additional support to make and maintain their UC claim, up until their first correct UC payment. HtC supports customers through telephony and digital channels (including webchat). Where somebody is unable to make a digital UC Claim they will support that person to make a UC Claim by telephone. Those individuals who are unable to access support via these channels will be signposted to their local jobcentre, where staff will identify the right support to meet their needs, face-to-face.</p><p> </p><p>Since April 2019, HtC has supported nearly 900,000 people.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 13/05/2024 14:56:58 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1716170

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Ghassan Abu-Sittah
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2024 to Question 22020 on Ghassan Abu Sittah, whether he has (a) received information on the reasons that Germany issued a Schengen Area wide travel ban on British-Palestinian national Dr. Abu Sittah and (b) held discussions with his (i) German and (ii) French counterpart on that matter.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	24947
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>We have not sought or received information from the French or German Authorities on this matter, nor held discussions with them about it.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 16/05/2024 17:00:31 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1712694

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Graduates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the letter from the Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee of 12 March 2024 on the timescales for its review of the graduate route.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	22959
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>It is important that we have clarity on the use of the Graduate route in a timely manner, which is why we asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to carry out a rapid review. We will consider the evidence put forward by the MAC very closely.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 25/04/2024 11:05:18 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1712695

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Graduates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the increase in (i) visa and (ii) Immigration Health Surcharge fees and (b) the removal of the ability of taught masters students to bring dependants on trends in the level of demand for graduate visas.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	22960
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office produced Impact Assessments (IA) alongside the visa and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee changes and the package of Student route reforms, including the change to dependant eligibility.</p><p>The Migration Advisory Committee are undertaking a review of the Graduate route. We will consider any evidence put forward by the MAC very closely.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 30/04/2024 13:07:16 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1712696

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Graduates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the removal of the ability of taught masters students to bring dependents on trends in the number of overseas female applicants for graduate visas.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	22961
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office considers its Public Sector Equality Duty in the development of all policy. An Impact Assessment (IA) was also produced for the student dependant reforms.</p><p>In addition, the Migration Advisory Committee are currently undertaking a review of the Graduate route. We will consider any evidence put forward by the MAC very closely.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 25/04/2024 10:57:35 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1712697

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities: Overseas Students
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential financial impact of trends in the level of enrolments of international students on universities.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	22962
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The government seeks to ensure that there is a fair and robust migration policy, whilst maintaining the UK’s place as a top destination for the best and brightest students from around the world. The department remains committed to the ambitions set out in the government’s International Education Strategy to host 600,000 international students per year and to increase the value of education exports to £35 billion per year, both by 2030.</p><p>The department expects the UK to remain a highly attractive study destination. The UK has four universities in the top ten, and 17 in the top 100, worldwide. The UK has a highly sought after higher education (HE) experience, which is respected by students across the globe. The department is hugely proud to have met its international student recruitment ambition two years running.</p><p>However, the level of legal migration remains too high. As a result, on 4 December 2023, the government announced a new package of measures to reduce net migration and curb abuse and exploitation of the country’s immigration system.</p><p>The Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of the HE sector in England, continues to work closely with the Home Office, Department for Business and Trade, and other governmental departments to assess the impact of these changes on HE providers.</p><p>Universities are autonomous institutions responsible for managing their own budgets. The department also works closely with the OfS to understand the evolving landscape, including on risks relating to international students.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 01/05/2024 14:24:07 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1701315

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking to support the roll-out of human papillomavirus vaccines worldwide.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	22019
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The UK supports human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes in developing countries through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The UK is the second largest donor to Gavi, having committing £1.65 billion over 2021-2025. The UK was a vocal advocate for inclusion of the HPV vaccine into Gavi's portfolio to help protect the most vulnerable girls from the leading cause of cervical cancer. Since 2014 Gavi has fully immunised <del class="ministerial">48.2 </del><ins class="ministerial">16.3</ins> million girls and aims to immunise a total of 86 million girls by the end of 2025.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 23/04/2024 12:54:04 question first ministerially corrected 03/05/2024 09:49:01 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell previous answer version 29716 answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1701371

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Ghassan Abu-Sittah
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made representations to his German counterpart on Germany's refusal to permit the entry of British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	22020
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>I have not made representations on this matter.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 23/04/2024 07:21:50 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1699044

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what representations he has made to the Israeli government since it announced it would open a new aid crossing into northern Gaza; and what steps he plans to take to help (a) prevent starvation of Palestinian citizens and (b) ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	20654
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. The UK is playing a leadership role in alleviating that suffering. We are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air. On 20 March, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK has funded WFP to provide 2000 tons of food aid, enough to feed 275,000 people in Gaza. For example, on 20 March, the Royal Air Force airdropped 10 tonnes of food aid - including water, rice and baby food - directly to civilians in Gaza.</p><p>The British Government has pressed Israeli counterparts to increase the flow of aid into Gaza.</p><p>On 5th April Israel committed to significant steps to increase the amount of aid getting to Gaza, including allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Port of Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint.</p><p>The UK has urged Israel to take these steps for a long time and they are welcome. We are resolved that the international community will work with Israel to see these vital changes fully implemented.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 15/04/2024 14:39:19 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford